Heating system



A. L. BROWNE HEATING SYSTEM Aug. 5, 1930.

Filed Feb. 28, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ms Afr fbausvs Aug: 5, 1930. A. L.BROWNE 1,772,239

HEATING SYSTEM Filed Feb. 28, 1923 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 a g liNVENTOR (im/V @JJ; 19W

HIS ATTORNEE Patented Aug. 5, 1930 ALFRED L. BROWNE, EAST ORANGE, NEWJERSEY HEATING SYSTEM Application filed February 28, 1923. Serial No.621,743.

This invention relates tov heating systems. More specifically it relatesto two-pipe, gravity-return, heating systems in which air and liquid arepermitted to discharge from the radiator or radiators into the returnbut the elastic heating fluid is impeded or substantially prevented fromdischarging from the radiator or radiators.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an efiicient andreliable system of the above mentioned class.

Another object is to provide a system of the above mentioned class inwhich likelihood of damage to the boiler is minimized. A further objectis to provide means for insuring the automatic return of liquid ofcondensation to the boiler. Further objects and advantages will appearas the invention is hereinafter disclosed.

Referring to the drawings which illustrate what I now consider apreferred form of the invention: Fig. 1 is an elevation of the system.Fig. 2 is a sectional detail of one of the thermostatic valves. j

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of one of the traps employed.

Fig. 4 is a detail elevation, partly in section of another of the traps.

Fig. 5 is a detail rear elevation of certain of the parts shown in Fig.4:.

While the invention may be embodied in other systems and in other forms,I now prefer to employ the system illustrated in the drawings andconstructed substantially as follows. Referring to Fig. l, the boiler 10is provided with a conduit or pipe 11 for'conveying condensible elasticheating fluid or steam to a plurality of radiators, one of which isshown and designated 12. A pipe or conduit 17 connected to theboiler 10below the liquid line of the latter, serves to return water or otherliquid of condensation to the boiler and serves in another capacity, aswill presthe supply conduit 11 by means of a pipe 13 in which is locateda suitable manually adjustable modulating or other type of valve 14: forregulating the supply of heating fluid to that radiator. Each radiatoris also conently appear. Each radiator is connected to nected to thereturn conduit 17 by a pipe 16, a valve 15 being interposed in each ofthe pipes 16 and located adjacent its corresponding radiator. Whileother forms of valves 15 may be employed, I prefer to employ valves ofthe type shown in greater detail in Fig. 2 to which reference is nowmade.

The valve 15 comprises a connection 18 to its radiator and a connection19 to the corresponding pipe 16 leading to the return conduit 17. Thisvalve is provided with a sealed expansible capsule 20 secured to thevalve casing and having a valve member 21 secured thereto. The capsuleis charged with a suit able volatile liquid and is designed to operatesubstantially as follows. When air or water flows through the valve theparts occupy the position shown in Fig. 2. However, when steam passesthrough the valve the capsule is heated and expands causing the valvemember 21 to be engaged with the valve seat 22, thereby closing thevalve. The valve 15 thus serves as an automatic means for substantiallypreventing the passage of steam or similar elastic, condensible, heatingfluid from its radiator to the return 17, but permits substantially freeflow of noncondensible elastic fluid, such as air, or liquid or both,from the radiator to the return.

'The return conduit 17 is shown provided with a branch pipe 32 whichleads to a trap 34 shown in greater detail in 3 and constructedsubstantially as follows. The trap 34 is provided with two chambers 30and 31. These chambers are provided with ports or conduits 32 and 33,the former of which, as stated above, is connected to the return conduit17 and the latter is open to atmosphere. A partition dividesthe lowerpart of chamber 31 into water containers or receptacles 38 and 39. Thechamber 30 communicates with chamber 31 through one or both of twoliquid seals. One of these seals is formed by a conduit or passage 36which at one'end communicates through pipe 32 with the upper portion ofchamber 30. The other end of 36 terminates slightly below the normalsurface of the liquid in container 38. other liquid seal is formed by aconduit or passage 37 connected at one end withthe The the containers 38and'39 is the same and flush with the top of the partition 40, as shownby the dot and dash line in Fig. 3.

The conduit 33 is shown provided with a valve seat 41 with which a valvemember 42 is adapted to cooperate to open and close communicationbetween the ports or conduits 32 and 33. The valve member 42 is carriedby a rod 43, vertically slidable in suitable guides,

and to which the lever of a float 45 is pivotally connected. F or apurpose which will presently appear, a conduit 46 is provided, whichcommunicates at one end with the container 38 at the normal water leveland at its other end with the return conduit 17 below the boiler waterline. Bearing in mind that the normal level of the water ,in the trap 34is flush with the top of the partition 40, the system thus far describedis designed to oper ate substantially as follows.

team or vapor generated in the boiler 10 passes through the supplyconduit 11 to the radiators 12. The air in the latter passes through thevalves 15, return conduit 17, conduits 32 and 36, through thecomparatively slight head of water (between the lowerend of conduit 36and the surface of the water), through the upper part of the chamber 31and out to atmosphere at 33, the valve42 being open at this time. l/Vhena vacuum or negative pressure starts to form in the system, andconsequently in the conduit 32, the following action takes place. Liquidrises from the container 38 in the conduit 36 and .39 will fallsufliciently to permit the weight of the float 45 and connected parts toclose the valve 42 on its seat 41. Preferablythe design is such that thefloat will be suspended positive and firm closure of the valve.

entirely above the liquid, thus insuring a If the elastic fluid pressureat 32 again exceeds that at 33 the parts are automatically restored tothe position first assumed.

In systems of the type above described there is generally little or nosteam pressure in the return conduit 17. Water of condensationcollectsin this conduit 17 and would flood the trap 34 and escapethrough would lead to a lowering of the water line in the boiler belowthe crown sheet thereof and cause damage to the boiler. I accordinglyprovide means for automatically causing accumulated water ofcondensation in the conduit 17 to enter the boiler 10 and preferablyalso means for absolutely preventing any escape of water at the conduitor port 33. A preferred embodiment of such means is illustrated in thedrawings and constructed substantially as follows.

The return conduit 17 is provided with two check valves 48 and 60, eachof which permits flow of liquid from the return conduit 17 into theboiler 10 but prevents flow from the boiler into the return conduit 17.Between the check valves 60 and 48 a conduit or riser 61 is connected atits lower end to the return pipe 17 and at its upper end to a suitablereturn trap 62 above the water line of the boiler 10. While other formsof traps 62 may be employed, I now prefer to employ a trap such as theone illustrated in Fig. 1 and in greater detail in Figs. 4 and 5.

The trap 62 is provided with an inlet port 63 for the admission of steamor other elastic motive fluid to the trap and an outlet port 64 for thedischarge of elastic fluid from the trap. The port 63 is connected bymeans of a pipe 65 to the supply conduit 11 and the port 64 is shownconnected to the conduit 36 (of the trap 34) by a pipe 66. A valve 67 isprovided at the port 63 and a valve 68 at the port 64. Means, responsiveto the liquid levelin the trap 62, are provided for automaticallyopening the valve 67 and closing the valve 68 when the liquid rises to a'prede termined height, and for automatically closing the valve 67 andopening the valve 68 when the liquid drops to a predetermined level inthe trap 62. Thus the valves 67 and 68 are carried by valve rodspivotally connected to a lever 69 on opposite sides ofthe fulcrum 7 0 ofthe'latter. The lever 69 has also pivotally connected thereto a rod 71which extends through the shorter arm of a bell crank lever 72 and isprovided with spaced nuts or collars 73, 74 secured'to said rod 71 andengageable and operable by the said shorter arm of the lever'7 2. Thelonger arm of the bell crank 72 carries a weight 75 which biases thelever 72 to one side or the other of its fulcrum 76. A, lever 78 is alsofulcrumed or pivoted at 76 and is provided at its free end with a weight7 9. The lever 78 is provided with a lug. or stud 80 adapted to engagethe longer arm of the lever 72 to operate the latter. Athree-arm lever81 is also pivoted at 76 and has secured to its arm 82, a rod 83 whichcarries a float 84. The arms 85 and 86 of the lever 81 are each adaptedto engage a corresponding one of the laterally projecting lugs 87, 88 ofthe crossmember 89 forming a part of the leverv 78.

The operation of the trap 62 is substantially as follows.

As the water of condensation collects in the return conduit 17 it flowsthrough the check valve 48 and rises in the pipe 61. At this time thecheck valve 60 is held closed by the boiler pressure. As the watercontinues to rise in the pipe 61 it enters the trap 62 and causes thefloat 84 to rise. The rising of the float 84 causes the lever 81 to turnin a contra-clockwise direction (Fig. 4) and the engagement of the arm85 with the lug 87 causes the lever 78 to move with the lever 81. Aftera certain movement ofthe lever 81 the stud 80 engages the longer arm ofthe lever 72 and the latter then moves with the lever 78. The levers 81,78 and 72 now move together as the float continues to rise. When theweights 75, 79 pass vertically over the-pivot 76 they move rapidlycontra-clockwise (Fig. 4) under the impelling action of gravity with thefollowing result. The shorter arm of the lever 72 forcibly engages thenut or collar 7 3 with a hammer blow and throws the rod 71 upwardly. Thevalve 67 is thus rapidly and positively opened and the valve 68 forciblyand positively closed. When the weight 79 passes over dead-center thelug 88 engages the arm 86 of the lever 81. Opening of the valve 67admits steam from the supply conduit 11 through the pipe 65 into thetrap 62 above the surface of the liquid therein. As the valve 68 is nowclosed, the boiler pressure of the steam above the liquid in the trapneutralizes the boiler pressure on the check valve 60, the check valve60 opens and the check valve 48 closes. The water now flows from thetrap 62 and the pipe 61, through the check valve 60 and into the boiler10, under impelling action of a head of water equal to the verticaldistance between the surface of the water in the boiler 10 and thesurface of the water in the trap 62. As the water falls in the trap 62the float 84 descends and, as the arm 86 is now in engagement with thelug 88, the lever 78 moves clockwise (Fig. 4) with the lever 81. In thecourse of such movement the lug 90 engages the longer arm of the lever72 and the latter is thereby also moved in a clockwise direction as thefloat descends. When the weight 75 passes over dead-center, the

short arm of the lever 72 forcibly strikes the nut or collar 74 of therod 71 to open the valve 68 and close the valve 67. This cuts the trapofl from the conduit 11 and permits the steam and air in the trap 62 toescape through the pipe 66. 1

As previously stated, in order to avoid damage to the boiler bydangerous lowering of its water level it is desirable at all times tomaintain the volume of water of condensation in the conduit 17 as smallas possible. It is also desirable at all times to maintain the volume ofwater of condensation in the conduit 17 as small as possible from thestandpoint of thermal efficiency of thesystem. If the Vertical distancebetween the trap 62 and the water line of the boiler 10 is increased,the trap will descharge more quickly since the hydrostatic head isincreased, but such increase in distance of the trap above the boiler'water line permits a greater volume of water of condensation to collectin the conduit 17 before the trap 62 operates to return water into theboiler. On the other hand, if the trap 62 is placed but slightly abovethe water line of the boiler as shown, the water of condensation neednot rise so high before the trap operates; but in this case, the trapdischarges slowly due to the comparatively small hydrostatic head and aconsiderable and objectionable amount of water might collect (in theinterval that the trap is discharging) in the conduit 17 on the radiatorside of the check valve 48 unless some'means are provided to preventsuch objectionable accummulation. Furthermore, if the check valve 48should refuse to close, as for example in case of grit or solid materialbecoming lodged on the valve seat, water would be discharged from thetrap 62 through the valve 48 instead of through the valve 60, and theboiler water line would drop so low as to lead to damage to the boiler.Therefore, to obtain the advantage of locating the trap 62 acomparatively slight distance above the water line of the boiler, asshown, without the usual disadvantages, to insure the return of water ofcondensation to the boiler under allnormal and even abnormal conditions,and. to maintain the. accumulation of water of condensation in thereturn conduit 17 at a minimum, I provide auxiliary or independentwater-return means preferably of the form that I shall now proceed todescribe.

Referring to Fig. 1 and again to Fig. 3 it will be seen that the valverod 43 is provided with a second valve member 51which cooperates withthe valve seat 50. As water of condensation rises in the conduit 17 itrises also in the pipe 46. Should a sufficient volume of such watercollect to flood the trap 34, as shown in Fig. 3, the float 45 risessufficiently to close the valve 51 on its seat 50. After closure ofthelast named valve pressure is gradually built up in the return conduit17. This ultimately results in causing an equalization between thepressure in the supplyconduit 11 (or the boiler) and in the returnconduit 17 The head of the water column in the conduit 17 then causesthe check valve 48 to open and the water of condensation enters theboiler 10.

While in a properly designed small capacity system the trap 84 may beused alone and the trap 62 dispensed with, in large capacity systems orin systems having a large diameter return conduit, it is extremelyimportant, if not'imperative, to employ in addition the trap 6:2, or itsequivalent. Preferably the trap 62 is located, as shown, but slightlyabove the water line of the boiler 10, for reasons pointed out above,and the trap 3 is so located that its normal water line is at orslightly above the high water line of the trap 62.

In the system illustrated in Fig. 1 and described above, the return trap62 is located above the water line of the boiler 10 but below the normalwater line'of the trap 34. Furthermore, the trap 23 i is preferably solocated with respect to the substantially horizontal portion 17 (knownin the trade as the horizontal dry return) of the return conduit 17,that the valve 51 will automatically close on its seat 50, to causepressure to build up in the return conduit 1? above the liquid ofcondensation before the said horizontal portion 17 is flooded withaccumulated liquid of condensation. In other words,as the water or otherliquid of condensation accumulates and rises in the vertical pipes 61and 17, the valve 67 opens and valve 68 closes (as previously describedin connection with Fig. i) to return .water from the trap 62- to theboiler 10. Further rise of water of condensation in the return conduitsystem-but before the rising water reaches the substantially horizontalportion 17 -causes the valve 51 to close (as shown in Fig. 3) to causethe pressure to build up in the return conduit 17 and liquidofcondensation returns to the boiler 10 under its hydrostatic head. Byvirtue of my system, flooding of the substantially horizontal portion 17-of the return conduit '17 is eflectively prevented. lit will beunderstood that the portion 17 of the return conduit 17 may not beabsolutely or exactly horizontal, but may be sloped slightly for properdrainage. In any event, it is substantially, though perhaps notabsolutely, horizontal.

It will now be appreciated by those skilled in the art that I haveprovided a heating system comprising a novel combination of traps, whichheating system is of high thermal efliciency, and in which the volume ofwater of condensation which accumulates in the return conduit is keptsmall atall times. i

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, 1 have hereindescribed the principle of operation of my invention, to

gether with the apparatus which I now con sider to represent the bestembodiments thereof, but I desire to have it understood that theapparatus disclosed is only illustrative and that the invention can becarried out by other means. Also, while it is designed to use thevarious features and elements in the combinations and relationsdescribed, some of these may be altered and others omitted andsome ofthe features of eachmodification may be embodied in the others withoutinterfering with the more general results outlined, and the inventionextends to such use.

What I claim is 1. A heating system comprising in combination, a boiler,a conduit for conveying steam from said boiler, a conduit for returningwater to said boiler and having a substantially horizontal portion abovethe normal water line of the boiler, heat radiating means connectedacross said conduits, means for subjecting water in said return conduit1 to the pressure in said first-named conduit to return said water tosaid boiler, and independent means comprising a trap for causingpressure to build up in said return conduit to force water therefrominto said boiler before said substantially horizontal portion isflooded. V

2. A heating system comprising in combination, a boiler, a radiator, aconduit for supplying steam from said boiler to said radiator.- aconduit for returning water from said radiator to saidboiler and havinga substantially'horizontal portion above the nor mal water line of theboiler, means for permitting the escape of air and water from saidradiator into said return conduit but substantially preventing thedischarge of steam from said radiator, means for subjecting water insaid return conduit to the pressure in said supply conduit to returnsaid water to said boiler, and means comprising a trap for causingpressure to build up in said return conduit to force water therefrominto said boiler before said substantially horizontal portion isflooded.

3. A heating system comprising in combination, a boiler, a radiator, aconduit for supplying steam from said boiler to said radiator, a conduithaving a substantially horizontal portion above the normal water line ofthe boiler and in which the pressure is normally lower than the pressurein said supply conduit forreturning water from said radiator to saidboiler, a return trap for causing water of condensation from said returnconduit to enter said boiler, and means comprising a trap called intoaction by a predetermined accumulation of water of condensation insaidreturn conduit below its substantiallyhorizontal portion for causing apressure to build up in said return condui above said Water ofcondensation;

4;. A heating system comprising in combination, a boiler, a radiator, aconduit for supplying steam from said boiler to said radiator, a conduitin which the pressure is normally below that in said supply conduit forreturning'water from said radiator to said boiler and-having asubstantially horizontal portion above the normal water line of theboiler, a trap respons'iveto the level of water of condensation in saidreturn con duit for causing such water to enter the boiler, an outletfor permitting the escape of air from said return conduit, and a trapresponsive to the level of water of condensation in said return conduitfor closing said outlet before the said level reaches said substantiallyhorizontal portion of said return conduit.

5. A heating system comprising in combination, a boiler, a radiator, asupply conduit connecting said boiler and radiator, a, conduit having asubstantially horizontal portion above the normal water line of theboiler and in which the pressure is normally below that in said supplyconduit for returning water from said radiator to said boiler, a returntrap for causing water of condensation from said return conduit to entersaid boiler, and trap means called into action by a rise of water ofcondensation in said return conduit above the high level of said returntrap but below said substantially horizontal portion for causingpressure to build up in said return conduit above the surface of thewater of condensation therein. I

6. A heating system comprising in combination, a boiler, a radiator, aconduit for supplying steam from said boiler to said radiator, a conduitin which the pressure is normally below that in said supply conduit forreturning water from said radiator to said boiler, means forming achamber connected to said return conduit, means forming a second chamberin communication with said first chamber through a liquid seal, anoutlet independent of said liquid seal from said second chamber,liquid-level controlled means for opening and closing communicationbetween said return conduit and outlet, a return trap for causing waterof condensation from said return conduit to enter said boiler, andincluding means in said trap controlled by the level of water in saidreturn conduit for establishing a connection between said boiler andreturn trap above the water in the latter.

7. A heating system comprising in combination with radiators and aboiler connected to supply steam thereto, a return conduit for conveyingair and water of condensation from the radiators, said conduit havingaportion of comparatively great horizontal cross-sectional area abovethe normal water line of the boiler and which discharges into a portionof comparatively small horizontal cross sectional area, an outlet forthe escape of air from said conduit, trap means called into action upona rise invlevel of water in said second-named portion of said returnconduit for closing said outlet before the rising water enters saidfirst-named portion of said, return conduit, and a return trap connectedto said return conduit and operable to discharge water therefrom upon arise in water level in said return conduit to a plane below that of thewater level at which said outlet is closed.

8. A heating system comprising in combination with radiators and aboiler connected to supply steam thereto, a return conduit for conveyingair and water of condensation from the radiators, said conduit having asubstantially horizontal portion above the normal water line of theboiler and a substantially vertical portion into which the first-namedportion discharges, an outlet for the escape of air from said conduit, areturn trap connected to said conduit and operative to discharge watertherefrom upon a predetermined rise in the level of accumulated water insaid conduit, and trap means called into action upon a greater rise inthe level of water in said conduit for closing said outlet before theaccumulated water of condensation floods the substantially horizontalportion of said return conduit.

9. A heating system comprising in combination, a boiler, radiators,connections for supplying steam from the boiler to the radiators, areturn conduit for conveying air and water of condensation from saidradiators and provided with a substantially horizontal portion above thenormal water line of the boiler, an air-venting outlet, a return trapconnected to said return conduit and operative to discharge watertherefrom into the boiler upon a predetermined rise in the level ofaccumulated water in said return conduit, means for venting air andsteam from said return trap through said outlet, means for venting airfrom said return conduit through said outlet,'and trap means called intoaction upon a rise in the level of accumulated water in said conduitgreater than said predetermined rise for closing said outlet before. theaccumulated water of condensation floods the substantially horizontalportion of said return conduit.

In testimony whereof 1 hereto affix my signature.

ALFRED L. BROWNE.

